4 Tips to Save Money on Your Metal Workshop Building

March 2, 2018 by Peak Steel

When you’re building a workshop, it’s often the fulfillment of a long-time wish. Now, you’ll finally have the space that’s perfectly equipped to handle projects—whether as a hobby or as part of your business. But you want to make sure there’s still enough money left to purchase the supplies and equipment that go IN your workshop after it’s built. That means taking a hard look at how to save money on your metal workshop building.

#1 Size It Right from the Start

Building more space than you need doesn’t just drive up initial construction costs. It means you’ll be lighting and ventilating that extra footage for years to come. On the other hand, it might be more costly to expand a building later than it would be to construct a large workshop in the first place. If you think you will want to add an extension or a second floor but can’t afford it right now, take this into account in the initial building design and engineer the building for easy expansion later.

Note: What ALWAYS makes costs go up is tweaking the design over and over—and those change orders delay your project. It’s best to talk through your needs up front and make a decision you can live with over the long term.

#2 Consider Essentials vs. Aesthetics

A rectangular metal workshop with a low-pitch roof is about as cheap a design as you can get. It won’t pass for eye-catching architecture, but it will get the job done. When choosing trim and accessories, you can also save money by keeping it simple. It makes more sense to spend money on things like insulation that enhance the usability and durability of the building rather than fancy paint colors and other frills.
Some items, like an automatic overhead door, will add quite a bit to the cost compared to a simple sliding door. But other seemingly aesthetic add-ons help save money over the long term. For example, wainscoting that protects the lower portion of the exterior walls can shield the underlying steel panels from being damaged by work vehicles, mowers, and other equipment.

#3 Choose the Proper Sound Proofing Options

A workshop that will be filled with loud equipment can be an uncomfortable environment to work in, and it can create a noise nuisance for your residential or commercial neighbors. A perforated steel liner laid over insulation may be a cost-effective way to sound proof the structure and may be more suitable than an acoustic ceiling for a workshop environment.

#4 Do DIY with a Smart Kit

For a small workshop, it may be possible to successfully erect the structure yourself, assuming you have previous construction experience and a few helpful friends. However, you’ll want to choose a prefabricated kit that has the DIY builder in mind. This may mean you have fewer options for customization. But that just means less room for error and rework—two factors that add unnecessary costs. In addition, a good kit will have everything you need included, and the entire bundle may be priced lower than if you bought the components separately.

Whether you decide to handle construction yourself or have the professionals handle it, properly designed, prefabricated steel always wins in the cost-saving department. Contact our team to get started on building the workshop of your dreams.

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